Top News:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yanks Appear Closer to Signing Pettitte — The Yankees' solution for their immediate future may come from their recent past. Andy Pettitte is committed to pitching again, and Roger Clemens could eventually join him for a reunion with the Yankees. — Pettitte could still return …
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George King / New York Post:
PITCH 'EM UP — QUIET CASHMAN ZOOMS — IN ON PETTITTE, ZITO — Andy Pettitte is in play big-time with the Yankees and Barry Zito was on the table last night when Brian Cashman and Scott Boras spent four hours together outside of the Dolphin Hotel. — "Cash is trying to improve …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Jennings faces domino effect — Orlando, Fla. - Philadelphia Phillies general manager Pat Gillick sat speechless in the front row of a news conference. It appeared the perfect reaction to the first major trade of the winter meetings involving a starting pitcher.
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — Andy's return rights wrong — A little more than three years ago, the Yankees decided they had no further use for Andy Pettitte. — Even though he had been a winner in each of his nine Yankees seasons, a postseason force and was coming off a 21-8 year in 2003 …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox deal Garcia to Phillies — Williams sends Garcia to Phils for 2 prospects, but not Rowand — ORLANDO — The White Sox began the revamping of their rotation Wednesday night when they traded 17-game winner Freddy Garcia to Philadelphia for pitcher Gavin Floyd and left-handed prospect Gio Gonzalez.
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Jim Salisbury / Philadelphia Inquirer:
Gillick working on deal for starting pitcher — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Despite listing his priorities as a hitter and a reliever, Phillies general manager Pat Gillick continued to move toward acquiring a starting pitcher at the winter meetings yesterday. — "I'm probably more optimistic …
Jimmy Golen / Associated Press:White Sox send Garcia to Phillies for Floyd and a player to be named
Discussion:
Fox Sports
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Winter meetings: Braves pull plug on trade with Pirates — Teams exchange barbs after Gonzalez-LaRoche deal fizzles — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Pirates came close to a trade with the Atlanta Braves, one that would have shipped …
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves trade Ramirez for solid set-up man — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Braves got the elite setup man they wanted Wednesday when they agreed to trade injury-plagued starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez to Seattle for reliever Rafael Soriano, who has a 2.89 career ERA and 177 strikeouts in 171 innings.
Discussion:
Sabernomics, Los Angeles Times, Braves Journal, Ben Maller's Sports … and MLB Trade Rumors
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs sign Lilly to four-year deal — ORLANDO — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has negotiated some big deals before, but he topped himself Wednesday during baseball's winter meetings when Ted Lilly signed a four-year, $40 million deal while Hendry was in a hospital bed.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Cubs ink Lilly to four-year deal — ORLANDO, Fla. - The Cubs continued their off-season spending spree Wednesday, reaching preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Ted Lilly on a four-year, $40 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned. — Lilly, who turns 31 on Jan. 4, becomes the Cubs' first major pitching acquisition.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals stay after Schmidt — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Despite numerous reports free agent righthander Jason Schmidt had agreed to accept a three-year, $47 million offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cardinals believed Wednesday night that they remained a player for their No. 1 pitching target …
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Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers add two big names — Schmidt agrees to a three-year, $47-million deal and Gonzalez agrees to one-year deal as Colletti adds depth, enhancing attempt to trade for a slugger. — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — In the most impressive recovery of the winter meetings, the Dodgers bounced …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Greg Maddux / ESPN:Dodgers replace Maddux with ace Schmidt
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB.com, Dodger Hill, True Blue LA, Fox Sports and Go Crazy, Folks!
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Are Unmoved by Early Trade Offers for Cordero — In the teeming lobby of the Dolphin hotel at Disney World, the discussion among club executives, agents and innocent bystanders during baseball's winter meetings centers largely on the concept of "value" in an ever-escalating market.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Banks of the Anacostia, William F. Yurasko, MLB Trade Rumors and Ben Maller's Sports …
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's widen search for left fielder … LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. // With the Orioles growing increasingly pessimistic about their chances of signing free-agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez, they have turned to other options, including the Detroit Tigers' Marcus Thames and free agent Jay Payton.
Discussion:
Philliesflow
Baseball America:
Rule 5 Draft Blog — The 2006 Rule 5 draft is here, and Chris Kline and John Manuel are blogging live from the Northern Hemisphere ballroom at Disney's Swan & Dolphin resort. — 8:40 a.m.: Early word in the Northern Hemisphere has the Athletics—after paying $100,000 to the Devil Rays …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets zero in on Zito — Ready to make a major pitch — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Despite all the speculation about wild offers from the Texas Rangers and now the San Francisco Giants, baseball officials are convinced the Mets are prepared to do what it takes to land free-agent Barry Zito.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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David Lennon / Newsday:Mets no closer on Zito, but A's arms could be targeted
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Helton deal appears unlikely for Angels — Trade with Rockies nearly happened, but L.A. had concerns about first baseman's age, health — LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Angels nearly made what General Manager Bill Stoneman called the "big splash," a deal that would have fulfilled owner …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Getting dicey with Matsuzaka — Sox not as optimistic about chances to sign Japanese pitcher — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — With a week to go before the clock strikes midnight on the Red Sox' quest to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka, perhaps it should not surprise anyone that the Sox are feeling …
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Manager sets sights firmly on playoffs — RANGERS RON WASHINGTON — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - One of the appealing characteristics about new Rangers manager Ron Washington is his bold confidence. — Washington has no qualms about stating that he expects the Rangers to go to the playoffs this season for the first time since 1999.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
